Florida Zika Virus Cases Up to 28

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The number of confirmed travel-related cases of the Zika virus in Florida has climbed yet again. As of Monday, State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong reported 28 confirmed cases statewide.

That number reflects an increase of two cases from Friday. One new case was reported in Miami-Dade County and one in Orange County. Hillsborough County remains the only one in the Tampa Bay area with confirmed cases so far. There have been three confirmed cases in Hillsborough.

All of the state’s cases remain travel-related, Armstrong noted. That means residents did not contract the virus within the Sunshine State.

To help residents resolve questions about the virus and its spread, the state has set up a Zika Virus Information Hotline. That number is 1-855-622-6735. As of Friday, the hotline had fielded 586 calls since it was launched Feb. 12, the state reported.

See Also:

• Zika Virus Information Floridians Need To Know
• Ebola Funds May Help Combat Zika

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. According to the state, only about one out of five people infected with Zika are symptomatic. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization.

It is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Several reports havelinked Zika in mothers with microcephaly in infants. That condition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, is a potentially life-threatening birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.

Aside from mosquitoes, Zika can be spread through sexual contact in some cases, the CDC notes.

While Florida’s cases to date have originated through foreign travel, the state urges residents and visitors to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

Image via Shutterstock

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